US Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association

In Nov. 2015, Congress enacted legislation requiring federal agencies to adjust their civil penalties to account for inflation. The Department of Labor is adjusting penalties for its agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

OSHA’s maximum penalties, which were last adjusted in 1990, will increase by 78 percent. Going forward, the agency will continue to adjust its penalties for inflation each year based on the Consumer Price Index.

The new penalties will take effect after Aug. 1, 2016.  Any citations issued by OSHA after that date will be subject to the new penalties if the related violations occurred after Nov. 2, 2015.

OSHA offers a variety of options for employers looking for compliance assistance. Safety in Paradise is the local program for on-site consultation across the USVI. Our services are free and confidential. OSHA consultation services provided by the University of the Virgin Islands Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (UVICELL) center. All services are available at no cost to employers.

For more detailed information, please visit us at http://safety.uvi.edu/ or you can contact the UVICELL Safety in Paradise office at 340-693-1146 or via email at safetyinparadise@uvi.edu.

You can also “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SafetyInParadise so you can stay in touch with the latest news regarding occupational safety and health!